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Gunther Katzmar

Gunther Katzmar

  • Class Year:
    1949
  • Induction Year:
    1978
  • Sport(s):
    Track and Field

Gunther Katzmar '49 graduated from Baldwin Wallace in 1949 and was inducted into the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1978.

In an era of great Baldwin-Wallace track and field teams, Gunther Kazmar was one of the Yellow Jackets' outstanding performers.

Gunther's achievements were often overshadowed by those of his teammate for three years, Harrison Dillard, but they were outstanding in their own right.

Called in contemporary accounts "the most versatile performer on the entire team," Gunther established Baldwin-Wallace records in the 440-yard dash and the broad jump and was also a member of two record-setting relay teams. The 880-yard relay mark of 1:26.6 that he helped establish still stands today.

In 1946, the two-time All-American placed second in the nationals in still another event, the 220-yard low hurdles. At one time or another during his illustrious track career, Gunther took first place in no fewer than nine different track and field events. It was not uncommon for Gunther to compete in six different events at the same meet, as he did in 1955 against Case Institute and Bowling Green State University in a meet that saw him take five first places.

Gunther's leadership was recognized in 1949, when he was named co-captain of the track squad that ran to a 5-2 record and a Northeast Ohio AAU title.

Following his graduation in 1949, Gunther married the former Phyllis Widener '49. The Katzmars have three children, Kurt, Carol, and Christine. In 1950, Gunther began a dedicated 38- year career at the Cleveland Department of Port Control, where he rose to a position as operations agent to be appointed commissioner of airports in 1968.